Without the corrective supplied by religion, though, reason too can fall prey to distortions, as when it is manipulated by ideology, or applied in a partial way that fails to take full account of the dignity of the human person. Such misuse of reason, after all, was what gave rise to the slave trade in the first place and to many other social evils, not least the totalitarian ideologies of the twentieth century. This is why I would suggest that the world of reason and the world of faith – the world of secular rationality and the world of religious belief – need one another and should not be afraid to enter into a profound and ongoing dialogue, for the good of our civilization.
And at the airport as he arrived in Santiago de Compostela, on 6th November 2010 (again, the italics are mine):
...I too wish to encourage Spain and Europe to build their present and to project their future on the basis of the authentic truth about man, on the basis of the freedom which respects this truth and never harms it, and on the basis of justice for all, beginning with the poorest and the most defenceless. A Spain and a Europe concerned not only with people’s material needs but also with their moral and social, spiritual and religious needs, since all these are genuine requirements of our common humanity and only in this way can work be done effectively, integrally and fruitfully for man’s good.
Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking in China, 9th November 2010 (scroll down towards the end of the speech; the italics are mine):
The rise in economic freedom in China in recent years had been hugely beneficial to China and to the world. I hope in time this will lead to a greater political opening, because I'm convinced that the best guarantor of prosperity and stability is for economic and political progress to go in step together.
And President Obama, speaking in Indonesia on 9th November 2010:
"Prosperity without freedom is just another form of poverty," Mr Obama said. "Because there are aspirations that human beings share - the liberty of knowing that your leader is accountable to you - and that you won't get locked up for disagreeing with them."
How far are the Prime Minister and the President speaking from the same script as Pope Benedict?
1 comment:
I don't think they are speaking from the same script.
Pres. Obama & Mr. Cameron are talking about political freedoms or liberal norms being necessary. They are not referring to there being a requirement for religion to be part of picture.
The Pope holds the view that religion is necessary to complete the picture.
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